The need to invest in completing wastewater treatment systems in industrial parks and industrial clusters

In recent years, Quang Tri province has focused on investing in technical infrastructure and putting into use industrial parks (IPs) and industrial clusters (ICs) which have brought certain efficiency in socio-economic development. However, due to lack of capital, most IPs and ICs have only invested in essential infrastructure items for operation, while investment and operation of centralized wastewater treatment systems (WWTS) are still very limited, almost no IPs and ICs have completed and operated an effective WWTS system.

Wastewater treatment system in Quan Ngang Industrial Park - Photo: TN

By the end of December 2024, Quang Tri province had 2 industrial parks and 16 industrial clusters in operation. In the industrial parks and economic zones in the province, there were 197 registered investment projects, with a total registered capital of more than 172,356 billion VND. The industrial clusters attracted 173 projects, of which 97 projects were in operation. Therefore, the total volume of wastewater currently generated by the 2 industrial parks (Quan Ngang and Nam Dong Ha) is about 1,000m3/day and night. For the industrial parks, the amount of wastewater generated ranges from 5-180m3/day and night per industrial park, except for the 9D industrial park and the Krong Klang industrial park, which do not have any wastewater generating facilities. The composition of wastewater generated in industrial parks and industrial clusters depends on the type of activity. Results of wastewater quality analysis at some industrial parks and industrial clusters show that parameters such as color, TSS, COD, BOD5, and Coliform exceed QCVN 40/2011/BTNMT column B (National technical regulations on industrial wastewater).

Regarding the current status of the wastewater collection, treatment and drainage system infrastructure, currently only Quan Ngang Industrial Park has invested in the construction of a wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 1,500 m3/day and night, which has been completed but is not yet in operation because the investor is preparing a dossier to request an environmental license. Ai Tu Industrial Park has invested in 2 wastewater collection and treatment systems since 2016 with a capacity of 200 m3/day and night/system. However, since then, they have not been put into operation, and the construction items and accompanying machinery and equipment have degraded; Dong Le Industrial Park has invested in a wastewater collection and treatment system with a capacity of 150 m3/day and night since 2006, but the installation of machinery and equipment has not been completed and has not yet been put into operation, and has now seriously degraded.

In addition, Huong Tan Industrial Park, formerly invested by Thai Hoa Quang Tri Coffee Joint Stock Company, has built the foundation and some tanks of the wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 40 m3/day and night, but has not been completed synchronously, not used, and is now damaged. In addition to the current situation of the 1 industrial park and 3 industrial parks mentioned above, Nam Dong Ha Industrial Park and the remaining 13 industrial parks do not have a wastewater collection, treatment and drainage system.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems in collection, drainage and wastewater treatment, many industrial parks and industrial clusters still do not have rainwater drainage systems, and some wastewater collection facilities discharge wastewater together with rainwater into the environment. Some industrial parks and industrial clusters have not even planned and arranged the land to carry out the construction of environmental infrastructure works.

In addition to the waste collection and treatment system, industrial parks and industrial clusters must also meet other requirements such as area, environmental safety distance and green area. Regarding environmental licenses, currently, only 1 industrial cluster in operation has been granted an environmental license according to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, which is Cua Tung Industrial Cluster.

In addition, due to the history of formation and development of industrial parks and industrial clusters and the unreasonable planning process of locations of some industrial parks and industrial clusters, the criteria for scale and technical requirements of industrial parks and industrial clusters have changed, causing many shortcomings in the management and operation of industrial parks and industrial clusters.

The above main causes have caused many negative impacts on the environment, affecting public health. Many lawsuits and complaints have occurred due to wastewater pollution from facilities operating in industrial parks and industrial clusters.

Faced with the above situation, it is urgent to review the list of industrial parks and industrial clusters and develop plans and roadmaps for synchronous investment in technical infrastructure systems, especially wastewater collection and treatment systems, and environmental protection measures for industrial parks and industrial clusters.

Therefore, one of the solutions that Quang Tri province is aiming for is to socialize resources for investment in wastewater treatment systems in industrial parks and industrial clusters to mobilize capital from enterprises, while at the same time enhancing the responsibility to accompany the state in environmental protection.

In addition to resource solutions, determining and selecting appropriate technology for each industrial park and industrial cluster according to each specific stage and roadmap also needs to be carefully calculated and researched to achieve effective processing.

From the urgent requirements to solve the ongoing environmental pollution problem and the requirements prescribed by law, the orientations of socio-economic development policies, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) has developed the task: "Investigate, survey and develop an investment plan for wastewater treatment systems for industrial parks and industrial clusters in the province in accordance with the socio-economic development goals for the period 2021-2030". With the goal of developing a comprehensive investment plan, proposing technology, funding and plans, investment roadmap for wastewater treatment systems for industrial parks and industrial clusters in the province in accordance with local conditions.

Through investigation and survey of the current status of operations, current status of wastewater generation and wastewater treatment systems in industrial parks and industrial clusters of the province, forecast and calculate the possibility of wastewater generation by 2030. Review and research the orientation of selecting wastewater treatment technology and appropriate management and operation methods for industrial parks and industrial clusters in the area.

The proposed investment plan includes a roadmap, technological solutions, and capital allocation solutions to complete the infrastructure of industrial parks and industrial clusters to meet operational requirements and attract investment according to the requirements of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that by 2025, 40% of industrial parks and industrial clusters will have invested in centralized wastewater treatment systems. Accordingly, it is proposed to invest in a collection and treatment system for 1 Nam Dong Ha industrial park and 7 industrial clusters including: Dong Le and Ai Tu (investment in upgrading and renovation); National Highway 9D, Cam Hieu, Hai Le, Hai Chanh, Krong Klang (new investment).

In which, investing in a 7,010 m long collection pipeline to the Nam Dong Ha Industrial Park treatment area running along the internal roads in the Industrial Park. Building a system to collect domestic and production wastewater from factories in the Industrial Park to the treatment system, using closed pipes made of reinforced concrete with D300-D400 depending on each industrial park subdivision; on the route, arrange manholes to settle sand and soil.

For areas with high terrain, it is necessary to use collection pits and booster pumps to lead to the common treatment area. Build a system to collect domestic and production wastewater from factories in the industrial park to the common treatment system.

Through actual survey, the construction area of ​​the wastewater treatment system is planned at the eastern corner of Nam Dong Ha Industrial Park with an area of ​​1.3 hectares. Currently, the facilities in the Industrial Park have invested in a wastewater treatment system that meets QCVN 40:2011/BTNMT (column B), the maximum generated volume is about 450 ^m3 /day/night (including the first overflow of rainwater through outdoor raw material storage areas), the total proposed treatment capacity is 1,000 ^m3 /day and night to avoid waste and operate effectively, the proposed investment in module 1 with a capacity of 500 ^m3 /day and night.

The technology is surveyed and selected based on the actual operation and industrial park wastewater, ensuring the technology is equivalent or superior, more modern than the approved technology to gradually perfect the wastewater treatment system in industrial parks and industrial clusters in the province.

Tan Nguyen

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/su-can-thiet-phai-dau-tu-hoan-thien-he-thong-xu-ly-nuoc-thai-o-cac-khu-cong-nghiep-cum-cong-nghiep-193498.htm